Sunday, October 28, 2012

Love’s Beginning

So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because
our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.Romans 5:11 NLT

The lunchroom was packed. The new school year at Gulf-Coast Bible
College had started days earlier. Some students were in the lunch room to see
if the food was edible. Others went to meet the new crop of girls, oh,
excuse me, I mean students. After I went through the line to fill my plate, I
stood for some time looking for a place to sit.

Finally, I saw the only two open spaces in the room; they were
immediately across from each other. I navigated my way through the chatty students
and made my way to the seats. I sat my plate down to hold my spot and headed
for the salad bar.

When I returned I noticed someone had the same idea and had captured the
other open space. I didn’t give it much thought. I had a lot on my mind and my
main goal that day was to eat then get on to the more exciting parts of
the day. I was barely seated when a cute girl with green eyes and long blonde
hair sat down across from me. I learned her name was Belinda, and she was from
Kentucky. The day had just radically improved!

To hear the rest of the story you’ll want to read the book backwards.
I’m not given to romantic stories but this one has a divine twist!

I never get tired of telling that story, but there is a reason beyond
the fact that I love my wife. Relationships take time. They are built
experience on experience. And here is the good news, The God of the universe
wants a relationship with you!

Beginning a relationship with God is similar to the way we develop human
relationships. They grow over time as we invest in them. Often we weren’t
looking for the relationships that became primary in our lives, just like
I wasn’t looking for Belinda. Although we may not be looking for a relationship
with God, He is looking for us. He is looking for you. He will reveal Himself
to you in multiple ways over time.

Open your eyes and your heart to Him and you will see that His
fingerprints are everywhere. Ask Him to reveal Himself to you. Once you express
that desire to Him you can be certain that He will find you. You will begin to
explore what it is like to become a friend of God.

Have you experienced a life in relationship with Him? What is it that
you could do right now to grow in your relationship with Jesus?